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The Brown field hockey team is set to begin its 2012 campaign with a pair of home games at the brand new field hockey complex, completed in August. The Bears welcome regional rivals New Hampshire (Friday, August 31 at 3:00) and Vermont (Saturday, September 1 at 2:00) in the first-ever games played at the Astroturf field.

Brown fans not making the trip to Providence for this weekend's games can follow all the action online. Brown will provide live video ($8) and live stats (free) for both contests and links can be found either on the field hockey schedule on BrownBears.com or below.

ABOUT BROWN: The Bears, who welcomed head coach Jill Reeve's first recruiting class in August, are laden with youth, as the roster of 19 consists of 13 sophomores and freshmen and just six upperclassmen. Brown, which returns 2011 leading scorer Meghan O'Donnell (Winchester, MA) and Honorable Mention All-Ivy goalie Shannon McSweeney (Boxborough, MA), will look to improve upon last year's 4-13 record. Junior Avery Burns (Millersville, MD), who finished third on the team in scoring, led Brown with seven assists in 2011, while junior Torie Stearns (Rye, NY) finished fourth on the team in scoring with 10 points, all goals. Brown also returns three-year starter Kelley Harrison (Houston, TX) to help anchor the midfield, while juniors Maggie Brady (Tulsa, OK), Kelsey Grossman (Shavertown, PA), and Charlotte Small (Summit, NJ), and sophomores Haley Alvarez (Martinsville, NJ), Clayton Christus (Bernardsville, NJ), and Liza Green (Providence, RI) all gained valuable experience last year and will help to lead the team in 2012.

ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats have opened the 2012 season with a pair of losses, falling to UMass, 2-1, in overtime, and then to #15 Ohio State, 1-0. Hannah Richard scored the lone goal against the Minutewomen, while Meg Flatley had an assist in the game. Carlie Tarbell has played every minute in net and has a 1.75 GAA with a .786 save percentage, stopping 11 of 14 shots.

ABOUT VERMONT: The Catamounts enter the Brown game with an 0-3 record after falling to James Madison (3-2), Indiana (3-0) and Kent State (4-2) in a trio of games played in Kent, Ohio. Vermont is currently led by Alana Izzo's three points (1g, 1a), while Colleen Slaughter, Sally Snickenberger, and Kelsey Bonner have all scored one goal. Stephanie Zygmunt has played every minute in net and has earned a 3.33 GAA with a .787 save percentage, recording 37 saves on 47 shots.

THE CAPTAINS: Brown will be led in 2012 by senior Kelley Harrison (Houston, TX), and juniors Avery Burns (Millersville, MD) and Maggie Brady (Tulsa, OK). The trio will look to lead a young team that features just one senior and five juniors, and has five sophomores and eight freshmen.

OPENING DAY: All-time, Brown is 14-22-3 in season openers, most recently falling to New Hampshire, 5-0, in the 2011 season opener. The August 31st opening day marks the first time that Brown has ever opened its season during the month of August. The earliest Brown has opened prior to this season was a September 1st opening game in 2007. New Hampshire has served as Brown's season-opening opponent four times, most recently in 2011.

HOME OPENERS: All-time, Brown is 19-18-2 in home openers, most recently earning a 3-2 win over UC Davis in the 2011 home opener. New Hampshire has served as Brown's home opening opponent five times, most recently in 2009. The Wildcats have served as both the season and home opening opponent twice, in 1995 and 2009.

NEW FIELD: Beginning this season, the Brown field hockey program has a brand new home on the Brown campus with the completion of the new field hockey field in the Erickson Athletic Complex. Situated adjacent to Meister-Kavan Field, the knitted-nylon Astroturf surface is regulation size and is lined for only field hockey. The project also includes a new scoreboard and the construction of spectator stands, with a press box, on the West side of the field.

UP NEXT: The Bears continue their three-game homestand next weekend when they host Colgate in a 12:00 noon game on Saturday, September 8th.